Troop Withdrawal from Syria Rewards Iran, Plants Seeds for ISIS 2.0

December 19, 2018

Washington, DC — Americans for a Free Syria (AFS) today released a statement in response to news that President Trump has ordered the immediate and rapid withdrawal of the roughly U.S. 2,000 troops stationed in northeastern Syria, as well as the return of U.S. diplomats on the ground.

“What happens in Syria doesn’t stay in Syria. President Trump’s decision is surprising and reverses the gains America and its partners have made against both ISIS and Iran—two of our most threatening regional adversaries—in Syria. The President has assembled an excellent team of commanders on the ground and advisers at the State Department who have repeatedly stated the need for an enduring defeat of ISIS and a stop to Russia and Iran’s hostile activities. This decision runs counter to those national security goals, and we hope the President isn’t receiving bad advice.

“Mr. President, only two weeks ago the U.S. government confirmed the murder of an American by the Assad regime. Don’t make the same mistakes your predecessor made in Syria. We must continue to support our partners on the ground, resist Iran, hold Assad accountable and secure a stable, free Syria that resists both extremism and the criminal Assad regime.”

Americans for a Free Syria (AFS) is a non-partisan, non-profit that advocates for human rights, the rule of law and U.S. national security interests in Syria.

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